Bassist Mike Boone Releases New Tribute Album “Ben Vereen: For You” | LISTEN!

Mike Boone Releases New Tribute Album “Ben Vereen: For You”

Mike Boone: It was April 1974 in NYC. I was 17. I was nearing the end of high school at Music & Art H.S. I was a classical double bassist heading to Rochester, NY, to study at Eastman School of Music. My dream, at the time, was to be the first Black bassist in the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. Lofty aspirations.

There was a groundbreaking ceremony behind Lincoln Center. Music & Art HS and Performing Arts HS we’re going to become one school. They had a few alumni from both schools on these floats. On one float was this Black guy with this crazy good smile. The announcer said his name, which was Ben Vereen, and said he was on Broadway. Out of nowhere, a voice whispered in my right ear, saying ‘That guy on that float is going to be in your life for a long time.’ I looked around for whoever said that, then I just shook it off. Ben’s on Broadway, and I’m on my way to Rochester, NY. Crazy thought, I guess.

Fast forward to 1976-77, my junior year at Eastman. I actually started learning and playing jazz up there, believe it or not. I had no bass ‘professor.’ So, I just listened to recordings, and taped the gigs I did. I got pretty good at jazz, I guess, so I started gigging around Rochester w/a saxophonist named Roger Eckers. The pianist was Dave Loeb, who was getting his Masters Degree. Dave runs the Jazz Department at UNLV these days, btw…..:) Dave knew the guy drummer for Ben Vereen, who was from Philadelphia. This drummer became the MD, and needed to hire a rhythm section, as he would be conducting big bands and orchestras for upcoming gigs.

Ben had just done Roots, in which he played a character named Chicken George. He became a huge star. So, he was getting booked at some decent venues. Vegas, Atlantic City, that level. Dave got the call first. Then, the MD asked, did he know of a bassist that would be good. He said Ben wanted a Black bassist… ……well, I’m brown, so I got the call. I tòok my senior year off to tour w/Ben. It was an exciting time. A little crazy at times. On stage, and off………nuff said…..Ben had a massive record collection, with several rows of jazz albums. He had all the important albums and then some. I remember thinking, ‘This guy is really a jazz head.’

Ben would feature each band member every show. He truly appreciated his musicians, and just sharing the spotlight with them. He brought young talented folks on stage, and would let them do their thing. He let my son Mekhi sit in when he was only 7. Never heard him play. He just called him up.

I’ve always wanted to do a jazz album with Ben for 30 years, but the time wasn’t right. I knew he could pull it off, because it was always in him. But the years rolled by, and still nothing. I was honestly starting to think it wouldn’t happen. Then, I remembered that voice I heard when I was 17. I called Ben, yelled at him like I do from time to time, and said, ‘Let’s do it now, mf!’ We got busy, and this past June, we went into Elm St. Studios and recorded some tunes that Ben used to do in his show, but with a jazzier flavor.

Released January 6, 2026

Personnel:
Mike Boone – bass, background vocals on Mr. Bojangles
Ben Vereen – scatting, vocals on With a Song in My Heart, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Old Folks, Mr. Bojangles, Stand By Me, What Can I Say?
Mekhi Boone – drums
Mike Frank – acoustic piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer
Brandon Young – organ on Stand by Me
Larry Tamanini – guitar on Stand by Me, MTD/Mr. Magic
Anthony Ventura – guitar on Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Old Folks
John Swana – EVI on Mr. Bojangles, MTD/Mr. Magic
Rob Landham – alto sax on Stand by Me, MTD/Mr. Magic
Omeed Nyman – trombone on Old Folks, Stand by Me, tenor sax on What Can I Say?
Elliot Bild – trumpet on What Can I Say?
Pete Souders – bari sax on Stand by Me
Joe Baione – vibraphone of MTD/Mr. Magic
Blessing Anderson – 1st lead, background vocals on Stand by Me
Lee Mo – 2nd lead, background vocals on Stand by Me, background vocals on With a Song in My Heart
Raimundo Santos – co-lead vocals, background vocals on Mr. Bojangles
Bethlehem Roberson – tap dancing, body percussion on Mr. Bojangles
Brendan McGeehan – percussion on Stand by Me, MTD/Mr. Magic
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Source: Bandcamp/Jazz Promo Services